Monday, August 31, 2009

Good news for the folks in the D.C. area! The ABC show 'Extreme Makeover' was in my hometown recently to renovate the Fishing School, a non profit youth development organization that provides academic and cultural enrichment to children and families in Washington, D.C. Via Press Release:

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ABC-TV's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" "moved that bus" this afternoon to reveal a completely rebuilt Fishing School. Surrounded by hundreds of volunteers and neighbors, school Founder Tom Lewis and Executive Director Leo Givs were overwhelmed with emotion as they gazed at their new child and family support center.

Concurrent with the reveal, Millicent Williams, President and CEO of the D.C. Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, awarded The Fishing School a grant in the amount of $50,000.

The Wachovia Foundation, of Wachovia Bank, matched the grant with an additional $50,000.

"At Wachovia, we believe that investing in young people is the most effective way to strengthen entire communities," said George Swygert, Wachovia regional president for Greater Washington, D.C. "We support The Fishing School because it's a place parents can feel good about sending their children. It's a place where kids can learn, play, and just be kids...and a place where community is built. We're proud to support this stellar organization as it affects change in the lives of more children through its new, expanded facility."

Actor/Producer Tyler Perry, who was in D.C. with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" as a celebrity volunteer, was so moved by Mr. Lewis and mission of The Fishing School, he announced that he was personally forming a foundation to support the school.

4 comments:

My name is Steven Greene, and I am and Educational Counselor at Boys & Girls Harbor Upward Bound Program. We are looking for a small grant to start a teenage male initative program. As you may know the number of male minority teenagers graduating from high school and going to college if far below the number of females. Here at Boys & Girls Harbor we are in a very poor community of East Harlem in New York City. We want to increase the number of males going to college. We are looking for a small grant of between $5,000 to $25,000 dollars to start the minority male initative program. We are hopin that the tyler perry foundation can help us here at Boys & Girls Harbor Upward Bound Program. Please help us!!! Thank You. Steven Greene Educational Counselor at Boys & Girls Harbor Upward Bound Program. 1 East 104th Street New York, NYC,10029. 212 427-2244 ext 451. or my e-mail address is stevegbball@aol.com

My name is Michael F. As a young Afro-American Male, I am constantly challenged to choose wisely. It is my understanding that learning is a combination of study, experience and/or observation. My studies, experiences and observations have helped to influence my choices. As a Homeless adolescent, I graduated with Honors from Englewood High School in Colorado. The following semester, I began my undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder. As a Full Time Student, my schedule was challenging and rewarding. I sat through numerous classes with privileged individuals, who came from stable two parent homes, well equipped schools, comfortable surroundings in aesthetic communities. My classmates appeared never to have known the pain of hunger or what it felt like to sleep on the back seat of a 1984 Pontiac before going to school. It was my choice not to share about my homeless experiences. As an adolescent, my daily survival meant knowing how to navigate between instability, disappointments, academic compliance and required obligations. The inconvenience of washing in the restroom of a Restaurant did not deter my class attendance or commitment to education. Although, I have tried to make informed decisions applicable to self sufficiency and personal discipline, my endeavors for continued education has been a challenging. Having made a commitment to self improvement in the pursuant of excellence, the experiences of being homeless has inspired me to never be homeless again. I have chosen to share my experience at this time only to the point of supporting my application for financial assistance. I invite you to be a part of my journey as I pursue the dream of higher education. As a graduate student between programs, I do not currently qualify for financial assistance. My endeavors are to enroll in prep classes this summer semester.

Although I have known financial struggles most of my life, impoverished circumstances have never deterred my pursuant of higher education. Today, I stand on the shoulders on my parents, grandparents and numerous others, who have thrown me life lines in time of need. Your approval of my financial aid application will help unleash my potential to make a valuable contribution to society. I trust that you will see your contribution as an investment as look forward to the day when I too will be able to give back. Please know that academic transcripts are available upon request. Feel free to contact me by phone 720-971-1787, or my email MKS_269@comcast.net.With respect,Michael F.

kMy name is Mark A. Parrilla, President of Genesis Neighborhood Association. Mr. Perry I have successfully started a collaborative effort with our City, local law enforcement, Media, local contractors to assist an 87 year old woman with no family living with her caretaker who is a volunteer who is not family she is a fellow church goer. I also wrote a proclamation that our Mayor signed and ceremonially presented it to Ms. Harris proclaiming her to be the Honorary Grandmother of all residents of Lake Worth at a City Commission meeting on February 15, 2011. She was my Valentine's dinner date corsage and all. You ask why Ms. Harris' well she was a victim of a horrific sexual assault in her home at 2am one fateful morning. Her demeanor is one of pure love I call her Nana. I would like to start a foundation in her name The Ethel Harris Foundation that can start by addressing local issues of seniors who have been victims of crime and/or neglect and in need of special attention. Ultimately I would love to see the Ethel Harris Foundation be a national treasure. I am also consistently looking for local businesses who have been helpful with fundraisers for our local Lake Worth High School band who are in desperate need of new marching band uniforms and several replacement instruments. Some of their instruments are being held together with duct tape and twine. I have pictures. I also have video of these amazing teens rehearsing and playing at some of their fundraisers. I recently was able to coordinate their playing for our Lake Worth Beach Casino Groundbreaking Event where a band member sang the national anthem from her heart. I pray that you may find both these causes worthy of your attention. Mark A. ParrillaPresidentGenesis Neighborhood Association, Inc.www.genesisneighborhoodassociation.org561.201.2851

My name is Patrick Morris; I am a volunteer for an organization called, Project Aspiration, A Class "A"ct Learning Center Inc. This 501 (c) (3) entity is owned and operated by Mrs. Estella Pyfrom who is a Palm Beach County, Florida retired educator for fifty years and is 75 years young. Her mission is to provide education through parental involvement, cultural and community exposure. Her target population is to serve underprivileged children and families. Mrs. Pyfrom currently provides after school homework assistance and tutoring for more than one hundred kids in addition to offering college prep classes for older kids. Mrs. Pyfrom has sparked an interest for children that has visited her DREAM to REALITY Bus, this is a 37' recreational vehicle with on board 18 computerize workstations with a handicap lift, truly state of the art. All costs have been furnished by her own pension and social security funds. In addition, Mrs. Pyfrom also feeds approx. 1500 people per month threw her feed program. I believe Mrs. Pyfrom can make a difference in every community with financial and sponsorship support.Any further questions or comments please call Mrs. Estella Pyfrom at 561-985-1889 or Patrick Morris 561-714-2822.Please visit her website www.projectaspiration.comThanks in advance,Patrick